Psalm 143:5-6 (ESV)Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk
📖Psalm 143:5-6 (ESV) 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 📘Pastor's Note: How thirsty are we for God? Do we realize our souls are like drought-stricken lands yearning for life-giving water. That’s how King David longed for his life-giving Deliverer. That’s how his thirst was quenched. He meditated and pondered on all God had done. Do we do the same? Far too often, we attempt to quench our thirst through other means instead of drinking from the eternal spring that truly satisfies our greatest needs. That’s a good prayer, “Lord, teach us to recognize that the only thing that can satisfy the thirst of our souls is You!” 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie 📖Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20143&version=ESV Click here to learn more about The Grace Place Church James 1:2-4Notes From the Pastor's Desk
#notesfromthepastorsdesk 📖James 1:2-4 (ESV) 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 📘Pastor's Note: We all encounter various trials/challenges in life. How do we respond to the difficult ones? Do we embrace them and grow, or do we wallow in self-pity? James, the half-brother of Jesus, says count it all joy. How are we to find joy in those difficulties? The answer: knowing the Lord is at work even in the darkest storms, perfecting us in the faith. Trials have a pruning effect. They humble us. They grow our roots stronger. Though we may not initially see it, it makes us healthier, more effective, more useful to the Lord in our walk to glorify Him. Difficulties have a wonderful way of showing us where our dependency lies. Christians turn to and are comforted in their Savior. And as those difficult storms pass, we find ourselves better equipped with a deeper understanding and a relationship with Christ. So, if you're going through a difficult time in your life, know that there is work going on within it. "I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal." John Wesley 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201&version=ESV Learn more about us www.mygpchurch.com John 8:12Notes From the Pastor's Desk
#notesfromthepastorsdesk 📖John 8:12 (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 📘Pastor's Note: Light is the brightness that allows humans to see. Jesus said, “He is that light!” It is only in Him and through Him that the scales fall from our eyes. Only through Him can we go from blind guides to seeing fisherman capable of leading others rightly. The old saying, “seeing is believing,” is not true. We first believe then we see. Are your eyes capable of seeing? 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208&version=ESV Learn more about us www.mygpchurch.com Matthew 19:26 (ESV)Notes From the Pastor's Desk
#notesfromthepastorsdesk 📖Matthew 19:26 (ESV) But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 📘Pastor's Note: This verse comes on the tail end of a rich young man asking Jesus about what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus starts off by asking him some questions about the law. In which the young guy said, “I’ve done all those things.” Jesus, knowing his heart, tells him, “sell everything you have, give it to the poor, then come follow me.’ The young man went away sad because he had much wealth. Jesus revealed where this young man’s affections truly laid. His wealth, his possessions. Those things were his god. When the disciples experienced this, their question was, who then can be saved?” They attached material blessing as God’s favor upon someone. They thought that because this man was rich that he had God’s favor. That’s why they asked that question, “who then could be saved?” See, God always looks at the hearts of men. Money, possessions, and temporary wealth can be unhealthy if emotional attachment to those things are out of place. But praise the Lord, that He is the God of doing the impossible. He can take a man who rightly understands that everything he is given is a blessing and resource God has given him to steward. How do you view your wealth and resources? And make no assumption that we aren’t blessed materially. We, in America, are among the richest people in the world regardless of being lower, middle, or upper class of this society. Do we keep our “things” in the right perspective? Or do we idolize them? Good question for us to always evaluate in our lives. 🙏I'm praying for you always. Have a blessed week in your surrender to the King of Glory, Jesus Christ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2019&version=ESV Learn more about us www.mygpchurch.com Genesis 3:4-5📖4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 📘Pastor's Note:
That crafty snake, Satan, will do whatever he can to get us to question God’s word. He is cunning. He knows just how to twist the words in order to get us to focus upon self and the desires of our eyes and flesh. His tactics have not changed since the garden. Why change something that is so effective? Brethren, that’s why we must know God’s word. We can not be satisfied with inch deep knowledge and understanding. We must study to show ourselves approved. Only when we do that will we be able to discern right from wrong, right from almost right. The Scriptures, God’s breathed-out words, have been given us for our good. Do not forsake the wisdom, the comfort, the life, the absolute truth found within its pages. Satan rejoices when a believer doesn’t feed regularly upon God’s word. Let’s make a stand. Let’s give that snake no reason to smile. Study, then study some more. ❤️Have a blessed day in your walk with Christ. I'm praying for you always🙏 Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203&version=ESV 📖James 1:2-42 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 📘Pastor's Note:As we walk out our lives of faith in Christ, we will encounter trials of various kinds. And James, Jesus’ half brother, tells us that we should count it all joy. Why are we told this? Verse 4 is the answer. Because we are being perfected in the faith. God sovereignly allows us to go through various trials because He uses them to make us more like Christ. Trials, therefore, are opportunities to grow closer to Him and be transformed more and more to His likeness. When we encounter trials, do we recognize this? Because by recognizing a trial as such will greatly help us on how we respond to it. Instead of responding with pride, we can respond in humility. Instead of responding with anger, we have the opportunity to respond with grace. It’s all about perspective. So, today, let’s ask ourselves that question: “how do I respond when trials come?” Respond in faith, respond in humility, and then praise God for loving us so much that He isn’t interested in leaving us where we are. Praise Him for actively growing us closer to Him and changing us into the likeness of Christ! Praying for you always. Have a blessed weekend! 🙏Pray for me as I pray for you. God bless❤ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201&version=ESV Hebrews 10:26-27 (ESV) |
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